Teddy Fresh


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Teddy Fresh is an American streetwear brand founded in 2017 by YouTuber and designer Hila Klein.[2][3] The company is based in Los Angeles and focuses on fashion pieces with artist collaborations.[4] Consistent with this, Teddy Fresh works with celebrities and brands to license cartoon or comic book characters to inspire and design new lines of clothing.

Teddy Fresh
A Teddy Fresh logo
Industryclothing industry
Founded2017
Founders
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
ProductsClothing, accessories
ParentTed Entertainment Inc
Websitewww.teddyfresh.com

History

Klein launched the Teddy Fresh apparel range in 2017.[2][5] The name is based on the mutual love she and her husband, Ethan Klein, had for the name Theodore, or Teddy. “We’ve always just loved it. We kind of thought about a cool teddy bear,” she said. “We just said Teddy Fresh.”[5] Teddy Fresh products are designed to be “colorful and playful” and are inspired by ‘90s fashion.[5] The apparel is known for featuring pastel and color-block patterns,[6][7][8] and products include t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, and jackets,[6] for men and for women.[9] The brand uses materials such as denim, jacquard, angora wool, and sueded fleece.[10]

Controversies

In 2020, co-founder Ethan Klein, who is Hila Klein's husband, suggested that fellow YouTuber James Charles had copied the color palette and color-block design of Teddy Fresh's most popular hoodie for his Sisters Apparel merchandise. Ethan went on to state that he feared Charles' larger fanbase may later accuse the Teddy Fresh brand of plagiarism. Charles denied that the design had been copied, responding that he had never seen the Teddy Fresh design.[11][12][13]

Teddy Fresh came under fire in November 2021 when a Reddit user noticed that the piece of art featured on the brand's "Gone But Not Forgotten" sweater design was plagiarized, with the original found in a 1990 book of knitting patterns authored by Gary Kennedy. The jumper in question featured vintage-style artwork of a dinosaur in front of a volcano with texts such as "Gone But Not Forgotten", "Teddy Fresh", and "Smiling Down Upon Us". Following this revelation, the controversy deepened as Ethan Klein, co-founder of Teddy Fresh, addressed a similar issue on the H3TV show. Ethan candidly admitted that the design was copied from a 1955 knitting book, offering explanations about the company's oversight and expressing a commitment to rectify the situation ethically. He disclosed efforts to locate the original creator or their relatives for proper compensation and affirmed their decision to withhold sales until resolution. Despite potential legal avenues, Ethan emphasized a desire to avoid selling the sweater without establishing contact with the original designer. Throughout this ordeal, Ethan declined to reveal the name of the designer responsible, acknowledging a shared responsibility due to the oversight on Teddy Fresh's part.[14]

Collaborations

In 2020, Teddy Fresh collaborated with the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants.[15] In 2021, Teddy Fresh released clothing in collaboration with the Care Bears brand.[16][17][18]

In October 2021, Teddy Fresh worked closely with Japanese artist Yurie Sekiya to translate her unique and accomplished style to the Teddy Fresh clothing creating wearable art.[19] Sekiya brings her own interpretation of “kawaii culture,” inspired by manga, cartoons, toys, and her everyday experiences.[19]

On November 13, 2021, Teddy Fresh hosted a pop-up event in Los Angeles[20] featuring the brand’s November 2021 collection— a collaboration with the Looney Tunes brand.[2][5]

In February 2022, Teddy Fresh announced a new collaboration with singer Elton John[21] called Teddy Fresh x Elton John which was “inspired by the way John has revolutionized music and broken boundaries and by his outlandish style and lust for life.” It features "sequins…intricate patchwork and vibrant fabrics that convey Elton’s luxurious and regal taste for fashion and life.”[22]

References

  1. ^ "H3H3's Ethan Klein admits Teddy Fresh 'Dino' sweater design was copied?". GINX TV. 2021-11-30.
  2. ^ a b c Tenbarge, Kat. "Inside the Teddy Fresh pop-up in LA, where hundreds of 'H3 Podcast' fans waited in the heat despite Hila and Ethan Klein canceling their appearance". Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  3. ^ "h3h3Productions' Hila Klein To Launch 'Teddy Fresh' Apparel Range". Tubefilter. 2017-07-25. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  4. ^ "Is New York City the Best Place to Start a Streetwear or Fashion Brand?". Complex. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  5. ^ a b c d Widjojo, Conchita (2021-11-11). "How Teddy Fresh Finds Inspiration in 'Nostalgia' and Reflects Hila Klein's Personal Style". WWD. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  6. ^ a b "Teddy Fresh's Hila Klein On Bringing Color & Quality To Streetwear". UPROXX. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  7. ^ "High-end sweatshirts you need for fall". The Post. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  8. ^ "Teddy Fresh doubles down on pastel-colored outerwear for its February collection • GEEKSPIN". geekspin.co. 2021-02-19. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  9. ^ "Teddy Fresh, Carebears Try on Streetwear Collab". licenseglobal.com. 2021-01-29. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  10. ^ Dobrosielski, Chuck (2021-02-02). "This New Drop Brings Care Bears to Streetwear". Sourcing Journal. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  11. ^ Harris, Margot (2021-09-21). "Beauty guru James Charles accused of stealing clothing designs from YouTubers Ethan and Hila Klein". Business Insider India. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  12. ^ O'Connor, Florence; Haylock, Zoe (2021-05-12). "A Complete Timeline of the James Charles Allegations and Controversies". Vulture. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-10-04.
  13. ^ Walfisz, Jonathan; Lince, Tim. "Thomas Cook brand relaunched; 'rip off' Teddy Fresh clash; Lady A legal fight continues – news digest". www.worldtrademarkreview.com. Archived from the original on 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  14. ^ "H3H3's Ethan Klein admits Teddy Fresh 'Dino' sweater design was copied". GINX TV. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  15. ^ "Hila Klein's 'Teddy Fresh' Streetwear Brand Teases SpongeBob SquarePants Collab". Tubefilter. 2020-02-21. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  16. ^ "Teddy Fresh and Care Bears Release Nostalgic Clothing Collection". HYPEBEAST. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  17. ^ Bobila, Maria. "Here's Your First Look At Teddy Fresh's Care Bears Collaboration". Nylon. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  18. ^ "LA Brand Teddy Fresh Collaborates With Care Bear". Ballerstatus.com. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  19. ^ a b "Artist Spotlight - Yurie Sekiya". Teddy Fresh. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  20. ^ Tenbarge, Kat. "Inside the Teddy Fresh pop-up in LA, where hundreds of 'H3 Podcast' fans waited in the heat despite Hila and Ethan Klein canceling their appearance". Insider. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  21. ^ Krishnamurthy, Chaitra (2022-02-22). "Teddy Fresh x Elton John collection celebrates singer's iconic looks". HITC. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
  22. ^ "Elton John teams with hot fashion line Teddy Fresh for new collection inspired by his "lust for life"". 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-03-18.